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Kissin' Cousins - 2 - 3
An in-depth look at the movie "Kissin' Cousins" -
Part 2 of 3:
Elvis's fourteenth film was "Kissin' Cousins." Wanting to get
a feel for his new co-workers, on September 23rd, Elvis
screened the movie "Hootenanny Hoot," a musical comedy that
Sam Katzman had produced, Gene Nelson had directed and for which
Fred Karger had been the musical director.
In an effort to save more production costs, on September 29th
soundtrack recording began at RCA's Studio B in Nashville.
However, Elvis had a cold and could not sing, so only the
instrumental tracks were laid down. Elvis did stop by the
studio to meet director Gene Nelson.
There were two different version of the song "Kissin' Cousins,"
The opening title song was written by Fred Wise and Randy Starr and
it was this version that was released as a single, peaking at #12 on
the pop singles chart. The movie-ending version (No. 2) was
written by Bill Giant, Bernie Baum and Florence Kaye and was
featured on the movie's soundtrack album. When, finally, on
October 10, 1963, Elvis did record his vocals at the MGM sound stage
in California, he was required to sing the ending song twice
in two different voices, one with a little more country twang than
the other, to achieve the effect of a duet between both of his
characters, the more worldly Josh and the country boy Jodie.
Elvis was fitted at the studio for the blond wig that he would wear
as Jodie Tatum. There are pictures that were taken on the set,
of Elvis in his blond wig and his manager Colonel Tom Parker wearing
the black wig that was used by Elvis's stand-in Lance LeGault in
various scenes. Mr. LeGault was Elvis's stand-in and helped
with fight and dance choreography in a number of Elvis's movies.
For the movie "Kissin' Cousins" Lance plays whichever of the two
cousins Elvis is not playing in a particular scene and always has
his back to the camera. Well....almost always.
There are a few bloopers in the film when the camera caught him and
Elvis turning too fast and so there were moments in the movie when
you can see the faces of both Elvis and Lance at the same time.
These mistakes were left in and it is fun to watch for them.
Lance can also be seen in Elvis's 1968 TV special playing the
tambourine and offering general assistance to Elvis during the
concert portions of the show and as a cast member in the big "Guitar
Man" production number . Lance maintains a busy career as a
character actor in film and television and as a voice artist.
One of his voice gigs is being the narrator for the Graceland
Mansion audio tour.
Arthur O'Connell played the patriarch of the Tatum clan i "Kissin'
Cousins." This was the second of his two movies with Elvis,
having played the father of Elvis's character in "Follow That
Dream." Mr. O'Connell was nominated twice for an Academy Award
as Best Supporting Actor.
One was in 1955 for the movie "Picnic" , the other in 1960 for the
movie "Anatomy of a Murder."
Glenda Farrell, who played Ma Tatum, began her career as a Warner
Brothers contract player in the 1930s.
She soon became known for a series of "blonde" movies that she did
based on the serial magazine character Torchy Blane. She also
became known
for her unique ability to speak fast, averaging 390 words a minute.
In 1963 she won an Emmy in the "Outstanding Performance in a
Supporting Role" category for her work on the "Ben Casey" television
show.
She died of cancer in 1971 and is buried in the West Point Military
Academy Cemetery.
Glenda Farrell's son Tommy Farrell also had a role in "Kissin'
Cousins" as MSgt. William George Bailey. Tommy Farrell's
career included roles on several TV series such as Corporal Thad
Carson on "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin", Mr. Holliday on "This Is
Alice" and Riff Ryan on "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis."
He can also be seen in Elvis's movie "Girl Happy" as Louie.
Mr. Farrell passed away in May 2004.
Award winning actor Jack Albertson played Captain Robert Salbo in
"Kissin Cousins." He also played Lou in Elvis's film
"Roustabout." Jack Albertson is one of the few actors to have
won a Tony Award, an Emmy Award and an Academy Award. He began
his career in vaudeville and burlesque and then went on to Broadway
where he won a Tony for "The Subject Was Roses." He reprised
his role in the movie version and won a 1969 Academy Award for Best
Supporting Actor. His movies include "Miracle on 34th
Street," "Don't Go Near The Water," "Teacher's Pet," "Days of Wine
and Roses," "The Patsy" and playing Grandpa Joe in "Willy
Wonka & The Chocolate Factory." On television he played
Lieutenant Commander Virgil Stoner in the "Ensign O'Toole" series.
He might be best remembered as Ed Brown on the series "Chico and the
Man" for which he received two Emmy Award nominations, winning one
in 1977. He died in 1981 and his ashes were scattered at sea. |
